On Tuesday, Senate Health Committee voted 12-11 in favor on a two page amendment that would require all congressional members and their staff to enroll in any new government-run health care plan.
Congressman, and doctor, John Fleming of Louisiana, has propsed an amendment that would require congressman and senators to take the same health care plan they are forcing on us. Under proposed legislation, they are curiously exempt.
Fleming is encouraging people to go on his website and sign his petition.
http://fleming.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=55
Please urge as many people as you can to do the same.
If congress forces this on the american people, then congress should have to accept the same level of health care for them selves and their families. To do otherwise is the height of hypocrasy.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
I sent an email to President Obama to voice my opinion about the health care bill. I know it was to late, but I still felt like it would be ok to let him know how I feel about it.
This is not going to be word for word but in that email I said:
"President Obama,
I supported you in the beginning, and I'm trying to continue to support you, but sometimes it seems like you are trying to do to much at once.
People aren't seeing enough of a change and I fear you will not be re-elected, and won't be able to finish what you have started. But I'd like to ask one question. When do we get to vote on the health care bill? Because after all, it is our health care that is in question. I believe that no one person should assume that he or she knows what's best for millions of others." And I sent it off through the email waves.
Of course I know we aren't going to get to vote on it. But it would be nice for once to be able to have a voice in a major decision like that: whether it be health care or going to war.
Giving the people who are homeless, on welfare, or have lost their jobs the new health care deal is a good idea but forcing it on someone who already has health insuance isn't right.
Because of my severe arthritis, I cannot get health insurance through a regular carrier. I have to get it from the state of Wisconsin. I pay 1800.00 every three months, and my son, who I also pay for because he can't afford it, needs to do the same because of his psoriasis, so his is about 800.00 every three months. But the actual coverage is very good. We fill out a form once a year listing our yearly income plus how much we pay for medications out-of-pocket and they adjust the premium accordingly. If they need to lower the premium, they also lower the deductable for doctor/hospital and for medications, which is nice. In 2009, I had about 3 months where I paid no co pay or anything else for my medications, which come to about $ 700.00 a month.
I'd like to see all the people who lost their job and insurance coverage, have their insurance paid for by the president (G.W.Bush) and the administration, from 2000-2008, responsible for outsourcing the jobs to begin with. That administration and it's leader should also pay for the loans that the workers couldn't pay back because of what the government was allowed to do. But once again, I know that isn't going to happen.
I feel bad for all those people who lost their jobs and in many cases their homes and belongings. That president and administration should never have been allowed to do what they did. That's what happens when everyone just sits back and fails to pay attention to what Washington is doing. If we had, Bush would not have served a second term. If we had paid even closer attention, Bush wouldn't have even became president to start with.
I hope we all learned the hard way that lesson in those 8 years. I hope we no longer will sit in our recliner chairs, with our remote controls and our potato chips, watching the football game, blind to whats being done in Washington behind our backs, without our knowledge.
I hope that we will now keep a close watch on whats being voted on in congress by the lawmakers.
President Obama claims he wants to communicate with the us, the American citizens. I certainly hope he gets what he wants. I for one will actually be telling him what I think, instead of mumbling about it to myself or discussing with someone else. And I will be watching the government channel on my tv much more often.
This is not going to be word for word but in that email I said:
"President Obama,
I supported you in the beginning, and I'm trying to continue to support you, but sometimes it seems like you are trying to do to much at once.
People aren't seeing enough of a change and I fear you will not be re-elected, and won't be able to finish what you have started. But I'd like to ask one question. When do we get to vote on the health care bill? Because after all, it is our health care that is in question. I believe that no one person should assume that he or she knows what's best for millions of others." And I sent it off through the email waves.
Of course I know we aren't going to get to vote on it. But it would be nice for once to be able to have a voice in a major decision like that: whether it be health care or going to war.
Giving the people who are homeless, on welfare, or have lost their jobs the new health care deal is a good idea but forcing it on someone who already has health insuance isn't right.
Because of my severe arthritis, I cannot get health insurance through a regular carrier. I have to get it from the state of Wisconsin. I pay 1800.00 every three months, and my son, who I also pay for because he can't afford it, needs to do the same because of his psoriasis, so his is about 800.00 every three months. But the actual coverage is very good. We fill out a form once a year listing our yearly income plus how much we pay for medications out-of-pocket and they adjust the premium accordingly. If they need to lower the premium, they also lower the deductable for doctor/hospital and for medications, which is nice. In 2009, I had about 3 months where I paid no co pay or anything else for my medications, which come to about $ 700.00 a month.
I'd like to see all the people who lost their job and insurance coverage, have their insurance paid for by the president (G.W.Bush) and the administration, from 2000-2008, responsible for outsourcing the jobs to begin with. That administration and it's leader should also pay for the loans that the workers couldn't pay back because of what the government was allowed to do. But once again, I know that isn't going to happen.
I feel bad for all those people who lost their jobs and in many cases their homes and belongings. That president and administration should never have been allowed to do what they did. That's what happens when everyone just sits back and fails to pay attention to what Washington is doing. If we had, Bush would not have served a second term. If we had paid even closer attention, Bush wouldn't have even became president to start with.
I hope we all learned the hard way that lesson in those 8 years. I hope we no longer will sit in our recliner chairs, with our remote controls and our potato chips, watching the football game, blind to whats being done in Washington behind our backs, without our knowledge.
I hope that we will now keep a close watch on whats being voted on in congress by the lawmakers.
President Obama claims he wants to communicate with the us, the American citizens. I certainly hope he gets what he wants. I for one will actually be telling him what I think, instead of mumbling about it to myself or discussing with someone else. And I will be watching the government channel on my tv much more often.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Health Care Reform.....
BOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!
Don't like what's going on in Washington?
Don't like the way things are being run?
Even if you voted for President Obama, because goodness knows, something needed to be done, but you don't like the road we're going down...
MAKE SOME NOISE!!
I did but I can't do it by myself, we all need to let him know how we feel. But one letter isn't going to do any good. The subject doesn't have to be Health Care Reform, it can be anything. The war, unemployment, whatever you would like to see worked on and improved.
There is a 2,500 word limit if you're using the space they provide to send an email message plus you need to provide your information. At the bottom there is also a place to click if you desire updates and/or a personal response.
Visit:
www.whitehouse.gov/contact
At the above internet address you will find, in the upper right corner, the words "contact us". Clicking there will produce a column that has a regular mailing address for hand written letters. You know, the old fashioned kind that still require an envelope and a stamp.
You will also find a "comment" phone number.
President Obama has said that he wants to be able to have opinions from the public, he wants us to communicate with him.
When he first brought up the Health Care Reform, we voiced our opinion loud enough for him to back off a bit and make it so if we want it then we can sign up for it instead of forcing it on us. But still he went ahead with it, though we plainly said NO! so in reality he didn't listen. And if you read it, it still sounds like we will be forced to have it.
And anyone who has it already, Canada, or Europe, will say they don't like it. They claim to have to wait forever for an appointment and supposedly people have died waiting to get an appointment.
But I wonder if those opinions aren't gathered by people who own or work at health insurance agencys and who realize that eventually they will be out of a job because of the new health care bill.
But who knows? Maybe it will turn out to be a good thing afterall.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!
Don't like what's going on in Washington?
Don't like the way things are being run?
Even if you voted for President Obama, because goodness knows, something needed to be done, but you don't like the road we're going down...
MAKE SOME NOISE!!
I did but I can't do it by myself, we all need to let him know how we feel. But one letter isn't going to do any good. The subject doesn't have to be Health Care Reform, it can be anything. The war, unemployment, whatever you would like to see worked on and improved.
There is a 2,500 word limit if you're using the space they provide to send an email message plus you need to provide your information. At the bottom there is also a place to click if you desire updates and/or a personal response.
Visit:
www.whitehouse.gov/contact
At the above internet address you will find, in the upper right corner, the words "contact us". Clicking there will produce a column that has a regular mailing address for hand written letters. You know, the old fashioned kind that still require an envelope and a stamp.
You will also find a "comment" phone number.
President Obama has said that he wants to be able to have opinions from the public, he wants us to communicate with him.
When he first brought up the Health Care Reform, we voiced our opinion loud enough for him to back off a bit and make it so if we want it then we can sign up for it instead of forcing it on us. But still he went ahead with it, though we plainly said NO! so in reality he didn't listen. And if you read it, it still sounds like we will be forced to have it.
And anyone who has it already, Canada, or Europe, will say they don't like it. They claim to have to wait forever for an appointment and supposedly people have died waiting to get an appointment.
But I wonder if those opinions aren't gathered by people who own or work at health insurance agencys and who realize that eventually they will be out of a job because of the new health care bill.
But who knows? Maybe it will turn out to be a good thing afterall.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Wedding news...
Wedding news!!! no not me...Heaven forbid..I learned from the first mistake..
My daughter "E" is engaged to be married. She's only 22 and I think she's to young, to me she is still a 5 yr. old in pigtails, getting on the school bus for the first time but I know she wouldn't be doing it unless she wanted it too. She says they have been talking about it for a while now.
"B" is a very nice boy. He comes from a good family. The couple have known each other for about 7 years and have been a "couple" for about 3.
Right now they are living together in Madison, Wisconsin. They share an apartment with another friend of B's. E works for a non-profit organization and B works for the University of Wisconsin- Madison Campus fixing computers.
On Thanksgiving, I went to B's grandparents for the day. I can't drive long distances with out falling asleep, so his mom was kind enough to drive me out there, since she was going too. I got to meet the grandparents and some other family members.
Everyone was very nice.
The wedding will take place at the grandparents who have a small chapel on their property that grandpa built for his son when he got married. It needs a bit of cleaning but it will be very cozy.
There is an open flat area in the yard where they are going to put a tent, with tables, chairs etc... The food is going to be very simple. It sounds it's going to be more like a picnic then a wedding dinner, but that's the way the coupple is. Very relaxed.
I have gotten word that the wedding party will be wearing specially made Converse shoes, in the colors of the wedding, Navy Blue and Tan.
E went looking at dresses at one place so far and has two other places to go to. I'm not sure what the dress will look like, but I think it will be very simple. She mentioned something about a tea length dress. (It falls between the knees and ankles.) I had always kind of hoped she would wear mine but since I am 5' 2" and she is 5' 7", I don't think that is a possibility, even though when I wore the dress, it dragged on the ground. I bought it off the rack and it's not even an actual wedding dress. But anyway...I'll keep updating as needed.
<>
Winter has finally arrived. Last week Tuesday night and Wednesday. We got about 12 inches of snow followed by bitter cold. Besides all the snow, our electricity went out. I don't know if it was Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning, so I don't know how long it was out but it got down to 62 in the house. Today was the first day in 4 days that I was able to go outside and play with the dog. She had a wonderful time.
It was a heavy wet snow. They were calling it heart attack snow, meaning if you weren't in excellent shape then shoveling it would probably kill you. My snow blower broke while my son was using it to clean off my sidewalks. So I sent him shopping and found a new one.
I have most of my Christmas shopping done. I just need to wrap the gifts I do have, buy a couple more, and then put up the tree.
That's it for now.
My daughter "E" is engaged to be married. She's only 22 and I think she's to young, to me she is still a 5 yr. old in pigtails, getting on the school bus for the first time but I know she wouldn't be doing it unless she wanted it too. She says they have been talking about it for a while now.
"B" is a very nice boy. He comes from a good family. The couple have known each other for about 7 years and have been a "couple" for about 3.
Right now they are living together in Madison, Wisconsin. They share an apartment with another friend of B's. E works for a non-profit organization and B works for the University of Wisconsin- Madison Campus fixing computers.
On Thanksgiving, I went to B's grandparents for the day. I can't drive long distances with out falling asleep, so his mom was kind enough to drive me out there, since she was going too. I got to meet the grandparents and some other family members.
Everyone was very nice.
The wedding will take place at the grandparents who have a small chapel on their property that grandpa built for his son when he got married. It needs a bit of cleaning but it will be very cozy.
There is an open flat area in the yard where they are going to put a tent, with tables, chairs etc... The food is going to be very simple. It sounds it's going to be more like a picnic then a wedding dinner, but that's the way the coupple is. Very relaxed.
I have gotten word that the wedding party will be wearing specially made Converse shoes, in the colors of the wedding, Navy Blue and Tan.
E went looking at dresses at one place so far and has two other places to go to. I'm not sure what the dress will look like, but I think it will be very simple. She mentioned something about a tea length dress. (It falls between the knees and ankles.) I had always kind of hoped she would wear mine but since I am 5' 2" and she is 5' 7", I don't think that is a possibility, even though when I wore the dress, it dragged on the ground. I bought it off the rack and it's not even an actual wedding dress. But anyway...I'll keep updating as needed.
<
Winter has finally arrived. Last week Tuesday night and Wednesday. We got about 12 inches of snow followed by bitter cold. Besides all the snow, our electricity went out. I don't know if it was Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning, so I don't know how long it was out but it got down to 62 in the house. Today was the first day in 4 days that I was able to go outside and play with the dog. She had a wonderful time.
It was a heavy wet snow. They were calling it heart attack snow, meaning if you weren't in excellent shape then shoveling it would probably kill you. My snow blower broke while my son was using it to clean off my sidewalks. So I sent him shopping and found a new one.
I have most of my Christmas shopping done. I just need to wrap the gifts I do have, buy a couple more, and then put up the tree.
That's it for now.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Health news
Where to start...where to start....
On August (or about) 28, I went back to the hospital via ambulance with severe stomach pains and vomiting. The same type of pain that sent me in July. Normally, when I have had that pain in the past, it means I have to have a really good "movement", if you get my meaning. And by drinking prune juice or eating things like fruit and oatmeal aids in that movement thing.The pain actually started on Monday the 24th. After three days with no relief, I called the doctors office on Wednesday the 26th to see if I could get in, like at the end of the day. I feared that an old hernia had returned and was maybe creating a blockage. Of course there was nothing open until Friday, when he was working a half day and I could come in at 11:30. So I said ok, knowing that I was going to need to be seen. Thursday night, right before bed, the pain worsened, expanding from the area under my belly button to the upper portion of my stomach. At about 5:30 am I started vomiting, after about 3 hours of that, I finally called my son to take me to the hospital. He was at work and I got this voice mail, so I called his girlfriend Amy (I pretty much consider her my daughter-in-law). As soon as she got dressed, she came. He ended up getting the message I left anyway and so they met out in the driveway.
In that 15 minutes or so, I had become so weakened that I didn't feel like I could walk from the house to the car so I had Amy call 911. After getting to the ER, they did the usual blood tests and x-rays. It turned out that there was an intestinal blockage. They wanted to do a CT Scan but they didn't think I would be able to keep down the contrast that a person needs to drink. They had to insert an EG tube into my nose, down into my stomach and start sucking out my stomach contents, of which there seemed to be an endless supply. Emergency surgery was performed to remove a piece of mesh that was used to repair the previous hernia. It had become attached to part of my intestine and that's what was causing the blockage. There was also a small hernia but it was higher up toward my stomach. The surgeon fixed that too, even though he said it wasn't that bad, but in a year or so, it would have been. After 5 days, I came home. You know how they always make sure that you pass gas and have a bowel movement after surgery before you go home? Well, the doctor didn't really seem to concerned that I even though I had passed gas, there was really a movement to speak of. If I had been the doctor, I wouldn't have been satisfied with it. I came home on Tuesday, the first of Sept. I had absolutely no appetite, no hunger. I only ate because I knew I needed to. I ate oatmeal for breakfast thinking that would get things moving. It didn't. By Friday Sept 4th, I was vomiting again. Nothing I ate stayed down and again there seemed to be an endless supply of whatever it was taking up residence in my stomach. I had been vomiting for about 5 hours, when I noticed my incision had become to "weep". It startled me at the time, I thought I had been vomitng for so long that maybe I had ripped something open. Even though it wasn't bright red, it was a watery, pale red. So with another ride via ambulance to the ER, more blood tests, and x-rays, another EG tube inserted, it was determined that I had gotten an infection somewhere. With a couple of anti-biotics loaded onto my IV pole, along with the usual bag, I spent another 3 days there. The doctor said too that after a surgery involving the intestine, the body can have a problem getting back to normal. After 2 days of no food, and clear fluid being sucked out of my stomach, the doctor ordered the removal of the EG tube and put me on a clear liquids diet. Broth, apple juice, tea, that type of stuff. I drank so much apple juice that I got diarrhea. He started me on a full diet that morning he said I could home. He said try a regular breakfast and lunch and if it doesn't cause nausea and stays down, I can go home in the afternoon. I ordered a BBQ beef sandwich with chips for lunch. I figured if anything was going to make me sick, that would have been it. After not having an appetite for a few days and then not eating at all for the next few, it's the first time hospital food actually tasted good.
I am back home now since Monday, the 7th. I feel pretty good, have an appetite and eating normally. Everything else seems to be working fine too.
I hope you all had a good holiday. Summer is at it's end and winter is just around the corner. BBRRRRRRR!!!!!!!
Take care....
On August (or about) 28, I went back to the hospital via ambulance with severe stomach pains and vomiting. The same type of pain that sent me in July. Normally, when I have had that pain in the past, it means I have to have a really good "movement", if you get my meaning. And by drinking prune juice or eating things like fruit and oatmeal aids in that movement thing.The pain actually started on Monday the 24th. After three days with no relief, I called the doctors office on Wednesday the 26th to see if I could get in, like at the end of the day. I feared that an old hernia had returned and was maybe creating a blockage. Of course there was nothing open until Friday, when he was working a half day and I could come in at 11:30. So I said ok, knowing that I was going to need to be seen. Thursday night, right before bed, the pain worsened, expanding from the area under my belly button to the upper portion of my stomach. At about 5:30 am I started vomiting, after about 3 hours of that, I finally called my son to take me to the hospital. He was at work and I got this voice mail, so I called his girlfriend Amy (I pretty much consider her my daughter-in-law). As soon as she got dressed, she came. He ended up getting the message I left anyway and so they met out in the driveway.
In that 15 minutes or so, I had become so weakened that I didn't feel like I could walk from the house to the car so I had Amy call 911. After getting to the ER, they did the usual blood tests and x-rays. It turned out that there was an intestinal blockage. They wanted to do a CT Scan but they didn't think I would be able to keep down the contrast that a person needs to drink. They had to insert an EG tube into my nose, down into my stomach and start sucking out my stomach contents, of which there seemed to be an endless supply. Emergency surgery was performed to remove a piece of mesh that was used to repair the previous hernia. It had become attached to part of my intestine and that's what was causing the blockage. There was also a small hernia but it was higher up toward my stomach. The surgeon fixed that too, even though he said it wasn't that bad, but in a year or so, it would have been. After 5 days, I came home. You know how they always make sure that you pass gas and have a bowel movement after surgery before you go home? Well, the doctor didn't really seem to concerned that I even though I had passed gas, there was really a movement to speak of. If I had been the doctor, I wouldn't have been satisfied with it. I came home on Tuesday, the first of Sept. I had absolutely no appetite, no hunger. I only ate because I knew I needed to. I ate oatmeal for breakfast thinking that would get things moving. It didn't. By Friday Sept 4th, I was vomiting again. Nothing I ate stayed down and again there seemed to be an endless supply of whatever it was taking up residence in my stomach. I had been vomiting for about 5 hours, when I noticed my incision had become to "weep". It startled me at the time, I thought I had been vomitng for so long that maybe I had ripped something open. Even though it wasn't bright red, it was a watery, pale red. So with another ride via ambulance to the ER, more blood tests, and x-rays, another EG tube inserted, it was determined that I had gotten an infection somewhere. With a couple of anti-biotics loaded onto my IV pole, along with the usual bag, I spent another 3 days there. The doctor said too that after a surgery involving the intestine, the body can have a problem getting back to normal. After 2 days of no food, and clear fluid being sucked out of my stomach, the doctor ordered the removal of the EG tube and put me on a clear liquids diet. Broth, apple juice, tea, that type of stuff. I drank so much apple juice that I got diarrhea. He started me on a full diet that morning he said I could home. He said try a regular breakfast and lunch and if it doesn't cause nausea and stays down, I can go home in the afternoon. I ordered a BBQ beef sandwich with chips for lunch. I figured if anything was going to make me sick, that would have been it. After not having an appetite for a few days and then not eating at all for the next few, it's the first time hospital food actually tasted good.
I am back home now since Monday, the 7th. I feel pretty good, have an appetite and eating normally. Everything else seems to be working fine too.
I hope you all had a good holiday. Summer is at it's end and winter is just around the corner. BBRRRRRRR!!!!!!!
Take care....
Saturday, August 1, 2009
News Update
On Monday July 27th I woke up at 2:00 am with really bad stomach pains that radiated around to my back. I slept in and out until 5:30am, then got up and took my morning dose of pain medication that I take for my arthritis which I can't take on an empty stomach so I have a cup of yogurt too. At about 6:30 am I begin to feel nauseated which led to what you usually associate with that. After that, the pain continued so I finally called my son and had him come and take me to the ER. I thought I knew what it was from but I have never gotten the back ache before. They did an EKG and that came out a bit abnormal. So that led a whole bunch of other tests, including a heart stress test and an echo. The echo showed a blockage of some sort in one of the frontal arteries. So a cardiac catherization was suggested. At first I said no, but then I spoke to my regular doctor and he convinced me to do it. I was transported to another bigger, hospital in Green Bay because the hospital I was in doesn't do that procedure. After the procedure I felt fine, no pain or very little anyway. During the night and early morning, the nurse would come in and check it every hour or so. At 6:15 am there was noise outside my room window that woke me up. I turned over and the small incision, which it isn't really, just a small hole, started to hurt. About 1 minute later, the nurse, Josh, came in to check on me. I told me I felt fine up until the time I turned and asked if he could check it. He looked and said "I told you to let me know if you felt blood." I said " I didn't feel it. I didn't feel anything until just a minute ago." He said "I'll be right back." Ran out of the room, came back another nurse who was carrying a bunch of wash cloths and Josh had a package in his hand. While Josh put pressure on the sight, the other nurse started to clean me up. Almost down to my knees and half way up my stomach. They needed to change the sheets and my gown. He then put on a pressure bandage which caused extruciating pain. That stayed on about 3 hours. By the time the day time nurse took it off I was in tears. She got me up about an hour later in the chair. I ate lunch and my son came in to get me about 12:30. I was afraid to go home but he said he'd stay for a few days. If Josh had not come in, I probably wouldn't have said anything, I was expecting pain at sooner or later so I would have thought it was normal. The bleeding had stopped on it's own by the time he had come in, it looked worse then it really was.
After all this, all I need to do is take a couple of pills. A "statin": generic form of Plavix and a baby aspirin. There are no diet changes needed.
I was in the hospital in Green Bay from Tuesday the 28th until the afternoon of Thursday the 30th.
I feel ok now. I tire easily but that will pass. There is very little pain.
I had a actual running water shower last night. It felt sooooo goooood.
After all this, all I need to do is take a couple of pills. A "statin": generic form of Plavix and a baby aspirin. There are no diet changes needed.
I was in the hospital in Green Bay from Tuesday the 28th until the afternoon of Thursday the 30th.
I feel ok now. I tire easily but that will pass. There is very little pain.
I had a actual running water shower last night. It felt sooooo goooood.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
News
Saturday, May 23. 2009
It's been a while since my last entry, so I thought today would be a good day.
A week ago, last Saturday, May 16th, 2009, my baby girl, Erika, graduated from Ripon College, with honors! "Cum Laude", (which requires a Cumulative GPA of 3.40 or higher), "Alpha Psi Omega"(Honor Society in Theater) & "The Laurel" (Senior Honor Society). She received a Bachelor of Arts Degree with a Major in History and a Minor in Theater. She is the only one on my side of the family to graduate from college. Needless to say, I am extremely proud.
There were 194 graduates altogether. The ceremony was held outside and the weather that day was windy (20 - 30 mph) and cold (52 degrees). It really should have been held indoors, but I guess since the sun was shining they thought it would be alright. After an hour and a half of sitting, we were all partially frozen, except for the people smart enough to have thought to bring their winter jackets. May in Ripon is usually about 70 degrees or so..At first it wasn't to bad. Like I said the sun was shining, and we were surrounded by buildings so we thought maybe we would be a little protected but it seemed like the buildings only acted like a funnel for the wind and helped it to come in and down. There were nine of us that went, myself, 2 friends of mine, (Karla and her husband Mike), the next door neighbors (Bob and Betty), Erika's boyfriend, (Bryan) and his parents, (Patrick and Marcia.) After the ceremony, we met up with Erika because she had some stuff to come home that she couldn't fit into her car, then we proceeded to go to Fond Du Lac, a near by city, and ate at a restaurant that Patrick suggested, called "Theo's Chop House." The food was delicious. The restaurant was very nice and warm. (Literally and decoratively.) We all had a good time. Mike found out that he knew Bob's son in school. Bob (who is in his late 70's I think), used to be a school teacher and Patrick used to be Assistant Principal at the high school in Manitowoc, so they knew each other. Karla is my friend and Massage Therapist. We've known each other about 9 or 10 years now. She has been a big part of mine and Erika's life for a long time.
Erika came home on the 19th of May, brought some stuff home and packed some stuff to take back. She is going to live in Madison with Bryan and another room mate. She and Bryan have been friends for about 5 years. They were in high school together where they were in theater class together, but they didn't become a couple until about 3 years ago. I don't know him that well but, he seems like a very nice young man that comes from a good family. His parents are really nice and they adore Erika and she loves them too. She's even been to their family reunions a couple of times. He is a bit shy around me and says he feels intimidated by me, but I know that once he gets to know me, that will change.
It's hard to believe that the past four years have gone by so quickly. Seth and Amanda...cherish that little guy...kids grow up way to fast.
Everything else is the same as my last entry. I feel a bit better now that spring is making a fleeting appearance. Warm, cold,warm,cold. The winter seemed longer this year because it got cold and started snowing in November, earlier then usual. I always get a little depressed in the winter. The dog loves to play outside so that requires me to wear four long pairs of pants, four long sleeved shirts and a double layer jacket with a hood and four pairs of gloves. They get wet and I have to keep putting on dry ones. When I am out of gloves, it's time to go in. They usually last about 30 minutes or so, depending on how wet the snow is and how much spit there is from her mouth on the frisbee. I can't wear boots because the arthritis in my feet has rearranged the small bones causing a high bump on the top of my feet so the boots don't fit over the bump but my shoes are actually fairly warm. Plus I have a small paint pail that I fill with water so she can drink while we're out side. By the time March comes I'm pretty tired of putting on and taking off all the clothes. There are some days that it's just way to cold to be out. I don't go out if it's below 12 degrees with no wind or if there is a wind chill of less then 18.
I can't think of anything else to write about. Take care until next time. BYE
It's been a while since my last entry, so I thought today would be a good day.
A week ago, last Saturday, May 16th, 2009, my baby girl, Erika, graduated from Ripon College, with honors! "Cum Laude", (which requires a Cumulative GPA of 3.40 or higher), "Alpha Psi Omega"(Honor Society in Theater) & "The Laurel" (Senior Honor Society). She received a Bachelor of Arts Degree with a Major in History and a Minor in Theater. She is the only one on my side of the family to graduate from college. Needless to say, I am extremely proud.
There were 194 graduates altogether. The ceremony was held outside and the weather that day was windy (20 - 30 mph) and cold (52 degrees). It really should have been held indoors, but I guess since the sun was shining they thought it would be alright. After an hour and a half of sitting, we were all partially frozen, except for the people smart enough to have thought to bring their winter jackets. May in Ripon is usually about 70 degrees or so..At first it wasn't to bad. Like I said the sun was shining, and we were surrounded by buildings so we thought maybe we would be a little protected but it seemed like the buildings only acted like a funnel for the wind and helped it to come in and down. There were nine of us that went, myself, 2 friends of mine, (Karla and her husband Mike), the next door neighbors (Bob and Betty), Erika's boyfriend, (Bryan) and his parents, (Patrick and Marcia.) After the ceremony, we met up with Erika because she had some stuff to come home that she couldn't fit into her car, then we proceeded to go to Fond Du Lac, a near by city, and ate at a restaurant that Patrick suggested, called "Theo's Chop House." The food was delicious. The restaurant was very nice and warm. (Literally and decoratively.) We all had a good time. Mike found out that he knew Bob's son in school. Bob (who is in his late 70's I think), used to be a school teacher and Patrick used to be Assistant Principal at the high school in Manitowoc, so they knew each other. Karla is my friend and Massage Therapist. We've known each other about 9 or 10 years now. She has been a big part of mine and Erika's life for a long time.
Erika came home on the 19th of May, brought some stuff home and packed some stuff to take back. She is going to live in Madison with Bryan and another room mate. She and Bryan have been friends for about 5 years. They were in high school together where they were in theater class together, but they didn't become a couple until about 3 years ago. I don't know him that well but, he seems like a very nice young man that comes from a good family. His parents are really nice and they adore Erika and she loves them too. She's even been to their family reunions a couple of times. He is a bit shy around me and says he feels intimidated by me, but I know that once he gets to know me, that will change.
It's hard to believe that the past four years have gone by so quickly. Seth and Amanda...cherish that little guy...kids grow up way to fast.
Everything else is the same as my last entry. I feel a bit better now that spring is making a fleeting appearance. Warm, cold,warm,cold. The winter seemed longer this year because it got cold and started snowing in November, earlier then usual. I always get a little depressed in the winter. The dog loves to play outside so that requires me to wear four long pairs of pants, four long sleeved shirts and a double layer jacket with a hood and four pairs of gloves. They get wet and I have to keep putting on dry ones. When I am out of gloves, it's time to go in. They usually last about 30 minutes or so, depending on how wet the snow is and how much spit there is from her mouth on the frisbee. I can't wear boots because the arthritis in my feet has rearranged the small bones causing a high bump on the top of my feet so the boots don't fit over the bump but my shoes are actually fairly warm. Plus I have a small paint pail that I fill with water so she can drink while we're out side. By the time March comes I'm pretty tired of putting on and taking off all the clothes. There are some days that it's just way to cold to be out. I don't go out if it's below 12 degrees with no wind or if there is a wind chill of less then 18.
I can't think of anything else to write about. Take care until next time. BYE
Catch up time....
It's been a while since my last update. so I thought I'd do it today. The weather is humid and rainy off and on, and the dogs frisbee is in the tree.
Last Saturday May 16th, 2009 My baby girl, Erika graduated from college,
Cum Laude,(requires a cumulative GPA of 3.40 or higher), Alpha Psi Omega (honor society in Theater), & The Laurel (Senior Honor Society). We just got her final report card yesterday, For the last semester. she got another 3.48 GPA for the semester. Cumulative GPA was 3.71. 3 A's, a B, an Two, AU's which I think is Audit or something, and a P for acting Lab.
I received a letter from the school congratualting her on making the Dean's List. And there is going to be an announcement in the home town paper about graduation. There is an article called "Student News", or something like that and they report news on college students. Whether they graduate naking the Dean's List or whatever. She's been in the paper all four years. There has been only twice when she didn't make the Deans List. When she was in Jr High and High School, there was only twice when she didn't make honor roll.
She is living in a city about a few hours from home. And she found a summer job with the same place as last summer. A place she likes and that's always important.
In case you can't tell...I am so very proud!!
Last Saturday May 16th, 2009 My baby girl, Erika graduated from college,
Cum Laude,(requires a cumulative GPA of 3.40 or higher), Alpha Psi Omega (honor society in Theater), & The Laurel (Senior Honor Society). We just got her final report card yesterday, For the last semester. she got another 3.48 GPA for the semester. Cumulative GPA was 3.71. 3 A's, a B, an Two, AU's which I think is Audit or something, and a P for acting Lab.
I received a letter from the school congratualting her on making the Dean's List. And there is going to be an announcement in the home town paper about graduation. There is an article called "Student News", or something like that and they report news on college students. Whether they graduate naking the Dean's List or whatever. She's been in the paper all four years. There has been only twice when she didn't make the Deans List. When she was in Jr High and High School, there was only twice when she didn't make honor roll.
She is living in a city about a few hours from home. And she found a summer job with the same place as last summer. A place she likes and that's always important.
In case you can't tell...I am so very proud!!
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Movies I watch over and over...
Movies I watch over and over...well not day after day but you know.
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (Kevin Spacey, Jude Law)
All That Heaven Allows (Rock Hudson) (an oldie but a goody..the movie not Rock)
Waking Ned Devine (David Kelly)
Dr Zhivago (Omar Sharif, Julie Christie)
The Great Escape (Steve McQueen)
Play Misty for Me (Clint Eastwood)
Brubaker ( Robert Redford)
Barefoot in the Park (Robert Redford, Jane Fonda)
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (Robert Redford, Paul Newman)
The Hot Rock (Robert Redford)
The Last Castle (Robert Redford, James Gandolfini)
The Electric Horseman ( Robert Redford..again..sensing a pattern here?)
Funny Farm (Chevy Chase)
Coneheads ( Dan Akroyd, Jane Curtain)
Double Indemity (Fred McMurray, Barbra Stanwyck)
About A Boy (Hugh Grant)
Four Weddings and a Funeral (Hugh Grant)
Miracle (Kurt Russel)
Backdraft (Kurt Russel, Billy Baldwin, Robert DeNiro)
One Flew Over the Coocoos Nest (Jack Nicholson)
To Kill A Mockingbird. (Gregory Peck, Mary Badham)
National Lampoon's "Vacation" Films (Chevy Chase.)
The Holiday (Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jude Law, Jack Black)
Good Morning Vietnam (Robin Williams)
One Hour Photo (Robin Williams)
The Birdcage (Robin Williams)
Disturbia ( Shia LeBouf)
Transformers ( Shia LeBouf)
Pirates of the Caribbean Trilogy ( Johnny Depp, Orland Bloom)
In America (Paddy Constatine)
Life Is Beautiful (Roberto Begnini)
Monty Python and The Holy Grail (John Cleese)
House of D (David Duchovny)
Mel Brooks Silent Movie
Young Frankenstein (Gene Wilder)
Same Time, Next year (Alan Alda, Ellen Burstyn)
The Time Machine (Guy Pearce)
Frequency (Jim Caviezel, Dennis Quaid)
Pay it Forward (Helen Hunt, Kevin Spacey)
The Edge (Anthony Hopkins, Alec Baldwin)
A Perfect World (Kevin Costner, Laura dern, Clint Eastwood)
My favorite tv shows:
Bones
Dirty Jobs
Mythbusters
CSI-Vegas
Nip/Tuck
Robot Chicken
PBR...(no not Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer...it's Professional Bull Riding)
Nurse Jackie
Weeds
The Tudors
and even though these are no longer on, I watch reruns over and over:
Stargate SG-1 with Richard Dean Anderson (not Ben Browder)
Angel (David Boreanaz)
Judging Amy (Amy Brenneman, Tyne Daly)
Frasier (Kelsey Grammar, David Hyde Pierce)
Will and Grace ( Eric McCormack, Debbie Messing)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Sarah Michelle Geller)
Friends ( Courtney Cox, Matt LeBlanc, David Schwimmer...)
On the BBCAmerica channel:
The Graham Norton Show
No longer on BBC:
Coupling
Not Going Out
Robin Hood
Movies that are not necessarily favorites but I will watch if there is nothing better on..
25th Hour...Edward Norton
Mr. Brooks... Kevin Costner
Eagle Eye... Shia Lebeouf
Switchback... Dennis Quaid
Never Been Kissed...Drew Barrymore..good family film teaches kids that differences in people are ok.
The Bear... another good family film..very little, if any dialogue.
To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything. Julie Newmar...Patrick Swayze
Little Children (Not for children)... Kate Winslet, Patrick Wilson
Transformers Shia Lebeouf
Disturbia
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (Kevin Spacey, Jude Law)
All That Heaven Allows (Rock Hudson) (an oldie but a goody..the movie not Rock)
Waking Ned Devine (David Kelly)
Dr Zhivago (Omar Sharif, Julie Christie)
The Great Escape (Steve McQueen)
Play Misty for Me (Clint Eastwood)
Brubaker ( Robert Redford)
Barefoot in the Park (Robert Redford, Jane Fonda)
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (Robert Redford, Paul Newman)
The Hot Rock (Robert Redford)
The Last Castle (Robert Redford, James Gandolfini)
The Electric Horseman ( Robert Redford..again..sensing a pattern here?)
Funny Farm (Chevy Chase)
Coneheads ( Dan Akroyd, Jane Curtain)
Double Indemity (Fred McMurray, Barbra Stanwyck)
About A Boy (Hugh Grant)
Four Weddings and a Funeral (Hugh Grant)
Miracle (Kurt Russel)
Backdraft (Kurt Russel, Billy Baldwin, Robert DeNiro)
One Flew Over the Coocoos Nest (Jack Nicholson)
To Kill A Mockingbird. (Gregory Peck, Mary Badham)
National Lampoon's "Vacation" Films (Chevy Chase.)
The Holiday (Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jude Law, Jack Black)
Good Morning Vietnam (Robin Williams)
One Hour Photo (Robin Williams)
The Birdcage (Robin Williams)
Disturbia ( Shia LeBouf)
Transformers ( Shia LeBouf)
Pirates of the Caribbean Trilogy ( Johnny Depp, Orland Bloom)
In America (Paddy Constatine)
Life Is Beautiful (Roberto Begnini)
Monty Python and The Holy Grail (John Cleese)
House of D (David Duchovny)
Mel Brooks Silent Movie
Young Frankenstein (Gene Wilder)
Same Time, Next year (Alan Alda, Ellen Burstyn)
The Time Machine (Guy Pearce)
Frequency (Jim Caviezel, Dennis Quaid)
Pay it Forward (Helen Hunt, Kevin Spacey)
The Edge (Anthony Hopkins, Alec Baldwin)
A Perfect World (Kevin Costner, Laura dern, Clint Eastwood)
My favorite tv shows:
Bones
Dirty Jobs
Mythbusters
CSI-Vegas
Nip/Tuck
Robot Chicken
PBR...(no not Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer...it's Professional Bull Riding)
Nurse Jackie
Weeds
The Tudors
and even though these are no longer on, I watch reruns over and over:
Stargate SG-1 with Richard Dean Anderson (not Ben Browder)
Angel (David Boreanaz)
Judging Amy (Amy Brenneman, Tyne Daly)
Frasier (Kelsey Grammar, David Hyde Pierce)
Will and Grace ( Eric McCormack, Debbie Messing)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Sarah Michelle Geller)
Friends ( Courtney Cox, Matt LeBlanc, David Schwimmer...)
On the BBCAmerica channel:
The Graham Norton Show
No longer on BBC:
Coupling
Not Going Out
Robin Hood
Movies that are not necessarily favorites but I will watch if there is nothing better on..
25th Hour...Edward Norton
Mr. Brooks... Kevin Costner
Eagle Eye... Shia Lebeouf
Switchback... Dennis Quaid
Never Been Kissed...Drew Barrymore..good family film teaches kids that differences in people are ok.
The Bear... another good family film..very little, if any dialogue.
To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything. Julie Newmar...Patrick Swayze
Little Children (Not for children)... Kate Winslet, Patrick Wilson
Transformers Shia Lebeouf
Disturbia
Just stuff
Just stuff
August 20, 2008 Wednesday 12:48 p.m.
If you need a chuckle...check out these websites...it is hilarious.
http://www.kittywigs.com/
I saw this on "The Graham Norton Show", and had to look for it. Just to see if it was real and it is. Enjoy!
And if you want to see some funny bumper stickers, pins, magnets..etc....check this out....
http://www.northernsun.com/
some of the anti Bush stuff is really funny..
http://www.catsthatlooklikehitler.com/
I saw this on Graham Norton show last night. If you have an extended cable plan, Graham is on the "BBCAmerica" channel. He is British and extremely funny.
As always, I welcome any comments, i'm always interested in what others are thinking.
August 20, 2008 Wednesday 12:48 p.m.
If you need a chuckle...check out these websites...it is hilarious.
http://www.kittywigs.com/
I saw this on "The Graham Norton Show", and had to look for it. Just to see if it was real and it is. Enjoy!
And if you want to see some funny bumper stickers, pins, magnets..etc....check this out....
http://www.northernsun.com/
some of the anti Bush stuff is really funny..
http://www.catsthatlooklikehitler.com/
I saw this on Graham Norton show last night. If you have an extended cable plan, Graham is on the "BBCAmerica" channel. He is British and extremely funny.
As always, I welcome any comments, i'm always interested in what others are thinking.
About me...
I want to let you get acquainted with me a bit more..although I am not going to into my childhood that much..it was a normal, little girl growing up in 1950's, 1960's, 1970's...the only tv shows for kids that were on, were on Saturday morning. Our tv, yes one tv, got maybe 4 or 5 stations. No Sony Play Stations, Nintendo, Internet, or computers. My "fun" was roller skating, bike riding and listening to my radio or record player. For you younger folks that are saying "what's a record player?" We used to have these vinyl discs that had grooves in them and when you put them on a spinning wheel like plate and rested an "arm" that contained a "needle", the vinyl music disc would play. First we had monotone then we graduated to stereo. WOW!! I saw the development of tape recorded music, (which I imagine was around long before our small town saw it)...eight track tapes, cassette tapes, cd's and dvd's.Not to mention Mircrowave ovens, refrigerators that had ice and water in the door, computers. (After I was married we had one of the very first home computers, a Commodore 64. We played Space Invaders and Pong on it.) I walked home from school, at times over a mile in the cold and snow or rain or I would go stay with my mom where she worked until it was time for her to go home. (My mom dropped me off in the morning before she went to work.) And always with a pile of books. We didn't have back packs. I wasn't a very good student. I didn't try hard enough. It was all so boring. What I really wanted to do was take wood shop, but girls weren't allowed. Girls got stuck with Home Ec..either sewing or cooking. If I could go back and do it again, I would. Make a different life for myself.
I still sew to this day. I have made clothes for my kids when they were small. When my daughter was in junior high, she took theater classes. What was called Drama class when I went to school. She was in the play " Legend of Sleepy Hollow". I made her and one of the other girls in the play a 18th century period dress. You know the kind..long, to the floor flowing skirt...They turned out really nice. And I got credit in the play program. Then, when my daughter was in high school and in the play " Much Ado about Nothing.", I made shirts for four of the actors.
I think my favorite and best school subject was art. Going to college wasn't an option. There just wasn't enough money. But no one told me if I worked hard enough at something, I could maybe try for a scholarship. That was in the day before women were encouraged to become doctors and lawyers. We were still relagated to nurses, teachers and secretarys amd of course housewives and mothers.
So after graduation, I worked at a restaurant as a busgirl..one who cleans off the tables...then went to work at Nestles', packing candy bars. I met my husband's sister there and she introduced him and me at the company picnic. I should have stayed home that day.
We were married four months later. Everyone thought I was pregnant..but I wasn't. My husbands dad was nice to me. My mother-in-law was a different story. She didn't like me. I don't know why. ( and she admitted she didn't know why..but she wouldn't have told me if she did..or she wouldn't have told the truth.) After spending 20 years of trying to get her like me and trying to figure why she didn't..I gave up. I just didn't give a **ck anymore.
Okay..change of subject.. at the end of July, 2001, my husband and I bought a motorcycle for our 25th wedding anniversary which was coming up in January. We wanted to be able to enjoy the bike before the snow hit. On September 13, 2001, we went for a ride out in the country, and on the way home, a woman in a chevy minivan, pulled out from her stop sign, causing us to hit her left front end of her van. We had the right of way. The collision threw us 15 feet, through the air, into a dirt field. My helmet came off and was found 10 feet away from me. My husband hit her van hood and windshield of her vehicle, then flew into a road sign post, did a half turn and landed on the ground. ( This was revealed to me about 4 years later.) He was pronounced dead at the scene. I was transported to the hospital by two ambulances...the first one was from a small town and wasn't really equipped for serious trauma, so they were met half way by an ambulance from my town and that one took me the rest of the way. An emergency tracheostomy was done (a tube that gets inserted in the front of the throat at the base by the collar bone from the outside)..because of neck trauma that caused swelling, putting in a breathing tube wasn't possible. After I arrived at the hospital, they cleaned me up and stablized me, let my children see me.. I was awake and alert..I told my son to call Grandma and Grandpa (husbands parents) but to drive to Grandma Dorothy's (my mom, and tell her. I knew she would try and drive up and I didn't want her doing that, she would be to upset besides she was 82 yrs old. I was flown by Lifeflight helicopter to a trauma center in Neenah an hour or so drive from my home. There I went through surgery. My left leg was broken in four places. My left arm broken in two places. All of my ribs were broken and I had a bruised lung and a collapsed lung. I spent a total of 36 days in the hospital, between recovery and Physical Therapy. After I was relased, I spent another 7 months having P.T. At which time...7 months to the day of the accident...April 13, 2002, I was back in the hospital..One of the steel plates in my leg had broken. Emergency surgery was required of course.
Then something bizarre happened..on the 13th every other month, something bad would happen.. And June 13, I had to have one of my dogs put to sleep. On August 13, my son was involved in a car accident. We missed October 13..(My daughter stayed home from school that day and we stayed inside). On November 13, my sister had a heart attack. Nothing happened in December and nothing has happened since.
In an earlier entry I said I had an idea of why I survived our accident and my husband didn't. There are actually two reasons..The first one is...(as I was told by a work companion of my husband)...the two of them were talking in my husband's cubicle at work...my husband leaned back in his chair, put is feet on his desk, and said "You know I have a pretty good life. I have a great wife, great kids, nice house. I love my job. I don't think it can get better then this." GOD saw this, laughed and said to himself.."Boy have I got a surprise for him." And BAM!! he was gone.
Now the second reason..In my husbands previous job, he did a lot of traveling, flying around the country. I think he should have been on one of those planes on Sept 11. But because he left his job and we had to move, he wasn't.
He was one of those types of guys that wouldn't just sit and let some terrorists take over. When we would watch films or documentary's about the holocaust,he would say.."why don't those people fight back? Instead of just lining up and standing there waiting to be shot. If you're going to die, you might as well die fighting." He would have been one of the group on that plane that went down in Pennsylvania, that decided to go out fighting.
I still sew to this day. I have made clothes for my kids when they were small. When my daughter was in junior high, she took theater classes. What was called Drama class when I went to school. She was in the play " Legend of Sleepy Hollow". I made her and one of the other girls in the play a 18th century period dress. You know the kind..long, to the floor flowing skirt...They turned out really nice. And I got credit in the play program. Then, when my daughter was in high school and in the play " Much Ado about Nothing.", I made shirts for four of the actors.
I think my favorite and best school subject was art. Going to college wasn't an option. There just wasn't enough money. But no one told me if I worked hard enough at something, I could maybe try for a scholarship. That was in the day before women were encouraged to become doctors and lawyers. We were still relagated to nurses, teachers and secretarys amd of course housewives and mothers.
So after graduation, I worked at a restaurant as a busgirl..one who cleans off the tables...then went to work at Nestles', packing candy bars. I met my husband's sister there and she introduced him and me at the company picnic. I should have stayed home that day.
We were married four months later. Everyone thought I was pregnant..but I wasn't. My husbands dad was nice to me. My mother-in-law was a different story. She didn't like me. I don't know why. ( and she admitted she didn't know why..but she wouldn't have told me if she did..or she wouldn't have told the truth.) After spending 20 years of trying to get her like me and trying to figure why she didn't..I gave up. I just didn't give a **ck anymore.
Okay..change of subject.. at the end of July, 2001, my husband and I bought a motorcycle for our 25th wedding anniversary which was coming up in January. We wanted to be able to enjoy the bike before the snow hit. On September 13, 2001, we went for a ride out in the country, and on the way home, a woman in a chevy minivan, pulled out from her stop sign, causing us to hit her left front end of her van. We had the right of way. The collision threw us 15 feet, through the air, into a dirt field. My helmet came off and was found 10 feet away from me. My husband hit her van hood and windshield of her vehicle, then flew into a road sign post, did a half turn and landed on the ground. ( This was revealed to me about 4 years later.) He was pronounced dead at the scene. I was transported to the hospital by two ambulances...the first one was from a small town and wasn't really equipped for serious trauma, so they were met half way by an ambulance from my town and that one took me the rest of the way. An emergency tracheostomy was done (a tube that gets inserted in the front of the throat at the base by the collar bone from the outside)..because of neck trauma that caused swelling, putting in a breathing tube wasn't possible. After I arrived at the hospital, they cleaned me up and stablized me, let my children see me.. I was awake and alert..I told my son to call Grandma and Grandpa (husbands parents) but to drive to Grandma Dorothy's (my mom, and tell her. I knew she would try and drive up and I didn't want her doing that, she would be to upset besides she was 82 yrs old. I was flown by Lifeflight helicopter to a trauma center in Neenah an hour or so drive from my home. There I went through surgery. My left leg was broken in four places. My left arm broken in two places. All of my ribs were broken and I had a bruised lung and a collapsed lung. I spent a total of 36 days in the hospital, between recovery and Physical Therapy. After I was relased, I spent another 7 months having P.T. At which time...7 months to the day of the accident...April 13, 2002, I was back in the hospital..One of the steel plates in my leg had broken. Emergency surgery was required of course.
Then something bizarre happened..on the 13th every other month, something bad would happen.. And June 13, I had to have one of my dogs put to sleep. On August 13, my son was involved in a car accident. We missed October 13..(My daughter stayed home from school that day and we stayed inside). On November 13, my sister had a heart attack. Nothing happened in December and nothing has happened since.
In an earlier entry I said I had an idea of why I survived our accident and my husband didn't. There are actually two reasons..The first one is...(as I was told by a work companion of my husband)...the two of them were talking in my husband's cubicle at work...my husband leaned back in his chair, put is feet on his desk, and said "You know I have a pretty good life. I have a great wife, great kids, nice house. I love my job. I don't think it can get better then this." GOD saw this, laughed and said to himself.."Boy have I got a surprise for him." And BAM!! he was gone.
Now the second reason..In my husbands previous job, he did a lot of traveling, flying around the country. I think he should have been on one of those planes on Sept 11. But because he left his job and we had to move, he wasn't.
He was one of those types of guys that wouldn't just sit and let some terrorists take over. When we would watch films or documentary's about the holocaust,he would say.."why don't those people fight back? Instead of just lining up and standing there waiting to be shot. If you're going to die, you might as well die fighting." He would have been one of the group on that plane that went down in Pennsylvania, that decided to go out fighting.
More about me...a continuation of previous page..
More about me
While I was laying in that empty field that I had been thrown into, a man who was fishing a short distance away, close enough to hear the crash, came running to my aide. I found out later that he is the son in law of my neighbors across the street. I met him about 4 years later and asked him how close was he to accident scene. He said "close enough to see you fly through the air and hit the ground." He told me he came running and having EMS experience, knew he couldn't touch me. He got to my husband first, as he was closer to him then to me but immediately knew there was nothing to be done. He saw him hit the post, do a half spin circle around the post and slide to the ground. The man (whose name I can't remember) then came to me.. he said I was laying on my stomach, with my face in the dirt, my left arm twisted backward and up over my head. My left leg under me, on a diagonal slant, from my left hip to my right shoulder, also twisted and my foot pointing up toward the sky at my shoulder. He said I was awake and alert and that I wanted to stand up. He had all he could do to keep me still. And when he wouldn't let me up I started swearing at him. He couldn't believe I was even alive much less awake. He very gently lifted my head just far enough to keep my face out if the dirt so I wouldn't suffocate. He said he called for help with his cell phone and I passed out just as the ambulance arrived. When I met him later on, he just kept shaking his head and saying he couldn't understand how I lived through it or that I was even walking.
Oh and the lady that caused the accident?....If I could talk to her, I'd ask her one question. What was she doing sitting at that stop sign for so long? when I think back about it, it's almost like she was waiting for us. I saw her sitting at the stop sign a good 12 or 15 seconds before we even got to the intersection. I know that doesn't seen like a long time but if she had gone when I first saw her, there wouldn't have been a problem. I heard she told the police the sun was in her eyes. It was after 1:00 in the afternoon and it was cloudy. Had the sun been out it would have been behind her. She had three kids in the car. My guess is she stopped at the stop sign, looked, didn't see us cause we hadn't rounded the curve in the road and come into her view right then, but got distracted by something..kids or radio or maybe lighting a cigarette or using a cell phone, and failed to look a second time. By the time she redirected her attention to the road, we were there. She pleaded guilty to the charge of "failure to yield the right of way" and was fined $125.90. NO I am not kidding.
So now you know the story of my life over the past 54years. I have had a surgery every year for the past 8 years (10 altogether as of Oct 2006, 14 since the age of 6) pinched nerves and such.. three on the left leg, two on left arm, two on left foot, two on the spine and one trachial repair...some of the problems are a result of the accident that weren't considered important enough to fix at the time but also from my arthrits, which disorganizes the small bones.. like the ones in your wrists and feet. The small bones in my wrists are so disorganized that I can not bend them. I have severed three tendons in my left wrist, because they rub over a bone that's not suppose to be there. And one severed tendon in my left foot. I know I will eventually end up in wheel chair and become a burden to my kids, my sisters. That will be the day I say goodbye. I am determined to not be a burden to anyone.
I am not usually a whiner about my personal problems, so you won't get pages of poor me complaints. I know there are alot of people that have worse problems then I do. When I see someone paralyzed from the waist or neck down, or have some sort of disease like Parkinson's or something like that.. and they still have the desire to go on, I think to myself "I don't know how they do it. If it was me, I wouldn't want to live like that."
While I was laying in that empty field that I had been thrown into, a man who was fishing a short distance away, close enough to hear the crash, came running to my aide. I found out later that he is the son in law of my neighbors across the street. I met him about 4 years later and asked him how close was he to accident scene. He said "close enough to see you fly through the air and hit the ground." He told me he came running and having EMS experience, knew he couldn't touch me. He got to my husband first, as he was closer to him then to me but immediately knew there was nothing to be done. He saw him hit the post, do a half spin circle around the post and slide to the ground. The man (whose name I can't remember) then came to me.. he said I was laying on my stomach, with my face in the dirt, my left arm twisted backward and up over my head. My left leg under me, on a diagonal slant, from my left hip to my right shoulder, also twisted and my foot pointing up toward the sky at my shoulder. He said I was awake and alert and that I wanted to stand up. He had all he could do to keep me still. And when he wouldn't let me up I started swearing at him. He couldn't believe I was even alive much less awake. He very gently lifted my head just far enough to keep my face out if the dirt so I wouldn't suffocate. He said he called for help with his cell phone and I passed out just as the ambulance arrived. When I met him later on, he just kept shaking his head and saying he couldn't understand how I lived through it or that I was even walking.
Oh and the lady that caused the accident?....If I could talk to her, I'd ask her one question. What was she doing sitting at that stop sign for so long? when I think back about it, it's almost like she was waiting for us. I saw her sitting at the stop sign a good 12 or 15 seconds before we even got to the intersection. I know that doesn't seen like a long time but if she had gone when I first saw her, there wouldn't have been a problem. I heard she told the police the sun was in her eyes. It was after 1:00 in the afternoon and it was cloudy. Had the sun been out it would have been behind her. She had three kids in the car. My guess is she stopped at the stop sign, looked, didn't see us cause we hadn't rounded the curve in the road and come into her view right then, but got distracted by something..kids or radio or maybe lighting a cigarette or using a cell phone, and failed to look a second time. By the time she redirected her attention to the road, we were there. She pleaded guilty to the charge of "failure to yield the right of way" and was fined $125.90. NO I am not kidding.
So now you know the story of my life over the past 54years. I have had a surgery every year for the past 8 years (10 altogether as of Oct 2006, 14 since the age of 6) pinched nerves and such.. three on the left leg, two on left arm, two on left foot, two on the spine and one trachial repair...some of the problems are a result of the accident that weren't considered important enough to fix at the time but also from my arthrits, which disorganizes the small bones.. like the ones in your wrists and feet. The small bones in my wrists are so disorganized that I can not bend them. I have severed three tendons in my left wrist, because they rub over a bone that's not suppose to be there. And one severed tendon in my left foot. I know I will eventually end up in wheel chair and become a burden to my kids, my sisters. That will be the day I say goodbye. I am determined to not be a burden to anyone.
I am not usually a whiner about my personal problems, so you won't get pages of poor me complaints. I know there are alot of people that have worse problems then I do. When I see someone paralyzed from the waist or neck down, or have some sort of disease like Parkinson's or something like that.. and they still have the desire to go on, I think to myself "I don't know how they do it. If it was me, I wouldn't want to live like that."
Still more favorites....
Favorite foods:
Medium rare Black Angus Rib Eye Steak basted with A1 sauce before and during broiling or grilling.
Crisp but not burnt bacon and fried eggs, over easy.
Baked Potatoes with butter and sour cream
Strawberry shortcake piled high with real whipped cream
Barbecued Baby Back Ribs
Baked Potato Soup. Without bacon.
My own homemade potato salad, cole slaw, baked beans and chili.
I like sour cream in my home made chili. It help cuts the spice.
Favorite Authors:
Janet Evonovich
Stephen King ( sometimes)
Alex Kava
Mark Nyganen
Medium rare Black Angus Rib Eye Steak basted with A1 sauce before and during broiling or grilling.
Crisp but not burnt bacon and fried eggs, over easy.
Baked Potatoes with butter and sour cream
Strawberry shortcake piled high with real whipped cream
Barbecued Baby Back Ribs
Baked Potato Soup. Without bacon.
My own homemade potato salad, cole slaw, baked beans and chili.
I like sour cream in my home made chili. It help cuts the spice.
Favorite Authors:
Janet Evonovich
Stephen King ( sometimes)
Alex Kava
Mark Nyganen
Pet peeves...
In case you don't know what the word "peeves" means...these are things that frustrate me...or just generally make me angry.
People that go to the grocery store, stand in the middle of the aisle, blocking the aisle with their cart, so a person can't pass either way while they stand there and can't make up their minds about what they want, and ignore the "excuse me". I want to yell" GET THE HE** OUT OF THE WAY!!" (He** wasn't the word I wanted to use but people would really be offended by the actual word.)
People that park in a handicapped space when they are not handicapped. You know who you are. It's against the law to hang a handicapped placard on the rear view mirror or have a handicapped license plate, if the handicapped person is NOT with you. And parking in the handicapped space and letting the actual handicapped person sit in the front seat while you run in doesn't count or just because you drive an elderly relative around a couple of times a week does not give you the right to use the handicapped space when they are not with you. And when they are with you, leaving them in the car while you run in doesn't count. If you are healthy and do not need assistance to walk and the handicapped person with you is not getting out, park in a regualr space. You can get ticketed by the police if someone reports you.
People that won't speak proper english. Da = the: Dat = that...etc...it makes you appear childish and immature, And why would anyone want to do that? It's not funny.
People who move here from a foreign country and won't learn the language. It makes me want to shake them and yell " YOU LIVE IN AMERICA. LEARN AMERICAN!!" We as a society should NOT have to learn their language to accomodate them. They chose to live here. LEARN THE LANGUAGE!!!!!!! I'm not saying they can't speak their native language in the privacy of their own home or teach it to their children as a second language but when they are out in public at the store or dealing with an american speaking person..at least learn the words you need to know to get the job done. And don't rely on your school age child to learn it and then try and teach it to you. There are english as second language classes available. Use them!
Parents that can't teach their children the basic manners. Please, thank you etc., teach them to have respect for rules and the law. Teach them that there are consquences for their actions, when they choose to break the rules. Simple rule folks...if you say no to your child..stick to it..regardless of how much they protest. I know that a lot of parents today have to work, sometimes two jobs and it's easier to give in to a whining child then it is to argue with one, but believe me, if you start with the word no from the beginning, and you don't waver and dont give in, they will know that when they ask to go to a party at the age of 16 and you say no, they'll know that no means no. NO ARGUMENTS!
People that go to the grocery store, stand in the middle of the aisle, blocking the aisle with their cart, so a person can't pass either way while they stand there and can't make up their minds about what they want, and ignore the "excuse me". I want to yell" GET THE HE** OUT OF THE WAY!!" (He** wasn't the word I wanted to use but people would really be offended by the actual word.)
People that park in a handicapped space when they are not handicapped. You know who you are. It's against the law to hang a handicapped placard on the rear view mirror or have a handicapped license plate, if the handicapped person is NOT with you. And parking in the handicapped space and letting the actual handicapped person sit in the front seat while you run in doesn't count or just because you drive an elderly relative around a couple of times a week does not give you the right to use the handicapped space when they are not with you. And when they are with you, leaving them in the car while you run in doesn't count. If you are healthy and do not need assistance to walk and the handicapped person with you is not getting out, park in a regualr space. You can get ticketed by the police if someone reports you.
People that won't speak proper english. Da = the: Dat = that...etc...it makes you appear childish and immature, And why would anyone want to do that? It's not funny.
People who move here from a foreign country and won't learn the language. It makes me want to shake them and yell " YOU LIVE IN AMERICA. LEARN AMERICAN!!" We as a society should NOT have to learn their language to accomodate them. They chose to live here. LEARN THE LANGUAGE!!!!!!! I'm not saying they can't speak their native language in the privacy of their own home or teach it to their children as a second language but when they are out in public at the store or dealing with an american speaking person..at least learn the words you need to know to get the job done. And don't rely on your school age child to learn it and then try and teach it to you. There are english as second language classes available. Use them!
Parents that can't teach their children the basic manners. Please, thank you etc., teach them to have respect for rules and the law. Teach them that there are consquences for their actions, when they choose to break the rules. Simple rule folks...if you say no to your child..stick to it..regardless of how much they protest. I know that a lot of parents today have to work, sometimes two jobs and it's easier to give in to a whining child then it is to argue with one, but believe me, if you start with the word no from the beginning, and you don't waver and dont give in, they will know that when they ask to go to a party at the age of 16 and you say no, they'll know that no means no. NO ARGUMENTS!
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